Monday, February 27, 2017

Snow is a great attraction for Finnish people.They do everything to let it remain clean and untouched.you can not throw garbage or food wastes on snow. But yes children and adults make sculptures and human figures of snow.They can't resist it.

Every house has a sauna room that is put to extensive use during snow falls. Fish holes are dug to insert special fishing hooks deep down for catching fish from frozen lakes and sea.

Well clothed people ,with minimum three layers of clothes and special snow shoes , go for long snow walks .

Ice hockey is a popular winter game. A visit to Laplands could be a great experience. And ride a Reindeer driven sleigh or go for some daredevil winter sport.

( Photo R C Kak (1893-1983) ... Source Prof. Arvind Gigoo )FIRST SILENT MOVIE IN KASHMIRI In 1928, a silent movie was made in kashmir .It was based on social evils. It was scripted by RC Kak ( who later became prime Minister of Kashmir) and a young Jai Lal Koul acted in it. Yes Same Jai/Jay Lal Koul who later headed SP college as it's principal. I stand corrected and updated.

SHIVA AND PARVATI COMING FROM MOUNT KAILASA ..A PAHARI MINIATURE PAINTING BY KHUSHALA SON OF MANAKU

( MANAKU WAS REAL BROTHER OF NAINSUKH AND BOTH WERE SONS OF EMINENT PAHARI PAINTER PANDIT SIEU RAINA OR SHIV RAINA A KASHMIRI PANDIT. NAINSUKH WAS WORLD RENOWNED PAHARI PAINTER FROM GULER.)

HERAT MUBARAK AND SHIVRATRI GREETINGS TO MY FRIENDS ..

(Autar Mota )

PS

Kashmiris have immensely contributed towards the development of Pahari school of Art. A family of RAZADAN ( RAINA ) Brahmins from Kashmir who were artists, moved out of Kashmir sometime around 1660 A.D. when they found no patronage to their work in valley and settled in various Rajput Hilly kingdoms on both sides of river RAVI. The family Head PANDIT SHIV RAINA ( who later came to be known as SEU RAINA was a master of PALA STYLE OF ART ) joined as artist in the kingdom of RAJA DALIP SINGH OF GULER . NAIN SUKH (Nana ) AND MANAKU ( Manna ) where his sons who later on revolutionized the Miniature Pahari Art by joining various hilly Rajput kingdoms. It is also believed that the next generation of this group of migrant Brahmins from kashmir did not move towards plains of the country in view of Death and destruciton created by Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali's invasions.

While Shiv Raina was an artist , other RAZADANS or RAINAS who were Brahmins and who also migrated out from kashmiri valley , took up employment in the Durbars of various Hilly Rajput Kingdoms . Some amongst these migrant Pandits , who were well versed in Hindu scriptures, were employed as Raj Purohits by various Pahari Rulers .The Raj Purohit of Basholi Kingdom was a Kashmiri RAZADAN who was granted sufficient land by the ruler . Even to this day, this RAZADAN family owns land in and around Basholi town. Again the Raj Purohit of Haripur was a Raina Brahmin from kashmir.

(Photograph of the Building of Lal Ded Memorial School Badyaar Bala Srinagar where Poet Dina Nath Naadim served as Principal for many years )

WE HAVE BEEN UNFAIR TO POET DINA NATH NAADIM ...

I have observed many similarities Between Naadim and Bengali Rebel Poet Qazi Nazrul Islam . Both were brought up and nursed in poverty . Both had mastery in the field of Nazm / Kobita . Their Verses come up with a gift of inherent music . Both have explored common themes such as exploitation ,love, freedom and humanity . Both were towering figures in spearheading a cultural renaissance by liberating poetry and literature from its medieval mould. The lone dissimilarity is sharp and painful. While Nazrul almost got what he rightly deserved for his contribution in the Literary arena of the subcontinent , Naadim did not get his due place even in his own land. For this, Kudos to Bengalis world over for not only recognizing and remembering their icons but also ensuring a respectable place for them in the corpus of “World Literature” . And here We have been unfair not only to Naadim but also to another legend known as Abdul Ahad Azad. I have my doubts if any person remembers Noor Mohd. Roshan.

" My mother is the person who developed my interest in
kashmiri poetry. After the death of my father, my sister got married . I was a
small child just 7years old when father died. I am told that when he died, we
had one and half rupee with us.. we could not buy a coffin .Poverty had its
supermacy in our family. For many many years, mother and me would eat Haak saag
only. Mutton was tasted only once in a year on Herath day . Mother was my sole
companion. At Times , I felt extreme loneliness . She would be busy with her
spinning wheel (yendher) under an oil lamp.The lamp was burnt when she sat for
spinning.There was complete silence in the room except the sound created by
spinning wheel. She would not allow me to go out.Possibly she felt insecure.She
was possibly fed up with poverty and the life that we lived.When Gandhi Ji
arrived on National scene, she felt that someone , who could address poverty
stricken masses, had arrived. .Her earnings from the spinning wheel was all
that we had for our survival. Right from my 4th class, I had started
supplementing her earnings by teaching students of lower classes.

For being poor, We were looked down upon by our relatives in
particular and the society in general . I was handsome but had no good clothes
to wear . As child , i played with Haanji ( Poor Boatmen ) children who lived
on Jhelum Bank close to our House . They shared our poverty .

New Books I could not afford. I would borrow books and then
copy entire book on old Newspapers as white paper I could not afford .In 1928,
Under this background, I passed my matriculation in first Division.Thereafter I
could not afford Rs 2.50 ( Two and a half rupees ) as the college fee though I
wanted to study and join college. Finally I did my FA, BA and BT privately
after I opened a school / Academy. I may add that Prof. Jay Lal Koul even
purchased two Books for me from his pocket and encouraged me to join College
But i somehow did not join.

My mother's father was also a poet( Zana Bhat ) .Poet
Mehjoor knew my maternal grandfather .My Matamaals( Mother's Parents) were from
Muran, a village in close vicinity of Mitregaam .And Mehjoor was from village
Mitregaam. So when I met Mehjoor , he told me that he was my Mama (Maternal
uncle) as he knew my maternal grandfather's family closely and considered my
mother as his sister.

My mother had profound belief in spirituality but she was
somewhat agnostic. For deprivation and our poverty, she possibly nursed a
complaint against God. She remembered verses of LalDed ,Sheikh Noor Ud
Din,Mehmood family, Shamas Faqeer, Prakash Bhat and Krishen joo Razdan. She
liked Pudeena Chutney and Rice. I too ate this simple food quite often .She
loved flowers .

I recollect a poem that mother composed as she would keep
humming her compositions while being busy at the spinning wheel...I quote..

Thursday, February 23, 2017

He was a gentleman to the core . Born to Shyam Lal Wali of
Badyar Bala Srinagar , Sh. Bansi lal
wali , who later came to be known as Bansi Nirdosh , started his career as urdu
Journalist ( Deputy Editor )with Amritsar based Newspaper NAYA ZAMAANA.

It may be relevant to mention that Pandit
Shyam lal wali was himself a Journalist
cum writer who wrote under Pseudonym or
“ Tirath kashmiri “ . Tirath Kashmiri was a regular subscriber to Daily
Martand and Khidmat Newspapers .

From Badyar bala , the family later moved to Live near sathu
Barbar shah Close to Ramchander Ji Temple.

Bansi Nirdosh lived at Amritsar for some time and later on
moved to Srinagar to work with a leading Urdu Newspaper
KHIDMAT . At Khidmat , he along with Sufi Ghulam Mohd and Makhan lal Mahav were Assistant editors while Nand Lal Wattal remained as the Editor and Mohd Amin Pandit worked as Joint Editor . During this period , he also worked on Part time basis with AFTAB another popular Urdu Newspaper . Thereafter he joined AIR Srinagar
. At Radio kahmir sringar , he proved his flair and skill when he wrote scripts for
some popular Programs ( Current affairs or Haalat e Haazira ) apart from writing some very popular Radio plays . For quite sometime , He worked as editor
Scripts in Radio Kashmir Srinagar .

Sh Bansi Raina informs
:

“ Along with Umesh kaul , he used to write script for some popular programs like ‘Vadi Ki Awaaz’ that had Characters like Munshi ji, Nikki Appa and
Aziz Bhai.”

Dr S S Toshkhani writes:

"Bansi Nirdosh started writing before 1960 but he emerged as a major contributor during 1960-1970 decade.He appears to have been influenced by "Maupassant and O Henry.His stories demonstrate authentic reflection of our middle class society.These stories are capable of influencimg every reader"

A Prolific writer
, he was a contemporary Dr Shanker
Raina , Sufi Ghulam Mohd and Deepak kaul . Nirdosh ji was
a prolific writer . He wrote in Hindi , Urdu and kashmiri . He wrote Radio plays , Short stories , Kashmiri Novels
and also
did some translation work . Nirdosh ji wrote more than 100 Plays .His three
collection of short stories are BAAL
MARAYO, AADAM CHHU YITHAAI BADNAAM and GIRDAAB were published in quick succession . His stories like Love Marriage
,Tulur , Myon Maruun, Khotchun , Baraat, Kaansi
Ma Sa Raavien Shoorey Paan and Yi ti chhu Akh Ehsaas were quite popular and translated into many
languages .

His radio plays like DAAN-THAER
( A Branch of Pomegranate Tree )
and VAAV , NAAV TA DARIYAAV ( wind , Boat and the river) remain unforgettable to this day even . Like his short stories , His Novel “Akh Daur “
has also been translated into Hindi and Published as “ Ek Daur “ by a
Publishing House from Meerut. His Novel
MUKJAAR ( Talaaq ) has also been translated into Hindi . He wrote two Novels in Kashmiri .He wrote many
Life stories and the best among this lot
was the moving story of 10th Sikh Guru Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

His stories like Daanthear ,Maut ,Tafteesh , and Girdaab and
many more were converted into Tele-serials by Door Darshan .

Migration was painful for
LALA Ji ( A Name by which he was
fondly known among his family and friends ,). He would usually recall his good old days in
Kashmir as and when someone would visit him at his rented accommodation at sarwal jammu.

The family finally settled at Ban Talab jammu where his
eldest son Sh Rajinder Wali ( who
retired from Door Darshan ) constructed
a House . His second son Ajay wali ( Who
sought VRS from Union Bank Of
India ) lives at Noida presently. Bansi
ji has two daughters Pushpa and Renu and
both are married and well settled . He was married to Nirmala ji (from Adalati family of Ali Kadal srinagar) in 1950. This simple housewife remained his lifelong strength and support .

He breathed his last in August 2001 at Jammu.

He remains unsung and
not properly presented for his enormous contribution.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

I am attempting Limerick format for writing a small Verse .
Limerick was used in Britain for writing Humour and satire etc. It is a five
line Poem with definite Rhyme ( AABBA) . let us try other subjects/ issues in
this format. A tough exercise to compress a thought from start to end in just
five lines with a definite Rhyme

Here is my kashmiri Limerick poem…

Globalization has brought about Sweeping changes in
Tradition and culture all over . This phenomenon is like a piece of Ice in
Boiling water . How long can it hold its separate identity ?

"We who carry tender hearts within
Love , to us, Deliver not this pain alone ,
Promise us not a lie ,
Why Swear by falsehood ?
Do we need to remind this recurrently ?
Put us not to tests so frequently.
We may die from your memory only ,
Be not so intense in remembrance........"

Bring all this to end ,
Now end it please…
speak to me with Smile only ..

While you tried to hide yourself,
I caught you .
Look , How I Tied you to my Hair Locks
And you still try to move away .
This time , never shall I allow you run away .
Bring all this to end
Now end it please..

You reside within my heart
Then how you try to move away from me
My delight is simply your name on my lips ..
This time , you shot a sharp arrow towards me..
Bring all this to end ,
Now End it please"

· *Laleshawari is well known 14th
century saint poetess of Kashmir . Through her verses , She preached Brotherhood
and Tolerance apart from illuminating knowledge of Kashmir’s Shaiva Darshana (
Shaiva Philosophy ). She is held in highest esteem by Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir. Her verses are
known as VAAKHs. She belonged to Village Pampore .

· *Reshi or Sheikh Noor Ud din also know as Nund Ryosh was the Tallest saint
of kashmir’s Reshi Order . He lived a
very simple life and preached Brotherhood . He was an admirer of Lallaeshwari .
He is held in highest esteem by kashmiris across the religious divide .The
verses composed by Nund Ryosh are known as SHRUKHS. His Ziyarat is located at
Village Tsraar in Kashmir.He lived during the rule of sultan Zain Ul Abdin ,a
tolerant ruler of Kashmir .

Sunday, February 12, 2017

A PAINTING DEPICTING CRUDE OIL BEING EXTRACTED THROUGH OLD METHODS FROM A WELL IN DIGBOI ASSAM

( source .. Subir Raha Oil Museum Dehradun )

INDIA IS MAKING NOTICEABLE STRIDES TO INCREASE DOMESTIC CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION ..

After my recent visit to Oil Museum Dehradun , I came to know about many facts with regard to Crude Oil and India’s Leaps and strides to augment Crude oil Production .

Here are some facts ..

Over the last one and half century , Petroleum products have dramatically improved the quality of our life. Some products like Petrol that fuel our vehicles are easily recognized . Petrol and Petroleum Products form the brick and Mortar of our contemporary Civilization .

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The story of Mahadev Joo , a kashmiri Robin hood is forgotten now. No
grandmother to reveal how he procured the Pyjaama of Maharaja Partap singh by
forcing Red ants through a reed Pipe while the ruler slept in his Bed Chamber .
So much was Maharaja Upset with the irritating Ants that he threw away his
Pyjaama to free himself from the insects .We were told by elders that some one
had put up a challenge to Mahadev Joo for this daring deed and he did it skillfully.

And then another story of Mahadev Joo also known as Mahadev Bishta (cat’s mew ) entering the Mehndiraat function of Dhar Family of Safa Kadal along with
his group for a robbery . This group came in the guise of singers and Mahadev
joo divided the group . Some members sat with Mahadev joo for the high Pitched Chhakri singing while others engaged
themselves with thieving the house .And Mahadev joo brought every one to the
singing Venue when he sang ...

Bishtak
Baanda

Raanda
ho……..

Hashi
Nishi Aa’tch vaen

Raanda
ho ..

Noshi
Nishi Tchaa’kha

Raanda
ho

Tchhaadar
Tujh’thaa

Raanda
ho ……

…………………………………………….

Voth
vaen nerav

Raanda
ho.

Mewing
like a cat,

O Performer!

you
are the Terrible ,

Go
to the Mother in law ( Haesh ) Now

you
are the Terrible

Have
you gone to the Daughter in Law ( Noesh )?.

you
are the Terrible .

Have
You carried the Blankets

you
are the Terrible ...............

.........................................

Get
up , We leave now

you
are the Terrible ..

While Mahadev Bishta engaged every member of
Dhar family and the Guests with his singing, other members of his group moved
through the house for their assigned task. They were guided by Mahadev Joo
through the lyrics of the song that he was singing .It was already decided in
the group before this burglary that word “Haesh
or mother in law” meant the provisions store room while “ Noesh or the Daughter
In law” meant the expensive jewelery .

We were made to believe that Mahadev joo was a man of short stature and of a thin body frame. A man who could climb trees and rooftops to barge in houses from chimneys known as Vogga in kashmiri.A real life Mogli who walked with a heavy dry grass sandals or Pullho'rr.Many elders told me that during old age, he was a reformed man who lived a simple village life. He was a dancer, Chhakri singer and mimic artist( Baand).

Upender Ambardar adds:

“Mahadev Bishta belonged to village Gushi of
district Kupwara.He could imitate the
voices of many animals particularly that of cats, hence earned the nickname of
Bishta. He had a chhakri singing party of his own and under its guise would rob
the affluent families to help the poor families to marry off their daughters. He
was killed by tribal raiders during Qabali raid in 1947 at Gushi,kupwara.”

Grand Mothers would say that Mahadev Bishta
robbed rich and helped the poor .Grand Mothers also told that Mahadev joo
entered the house of his target simply mewing like a cat. The house owner would
think it to be a stray cat and would accordingly try to ward it off by crying :

"
Bishta Bishta "

Did Mahadev Bishta Really exist or our grand mothers created this Character? I am not sure.But many elders have told me that he was a man of short staure and of a thin body frame. He is reported to have mastered the technique of entering houses from roof top chimneys known as VOGG in Kashmir. So many people have informed me that in old age, he moved back to his village in kupwara where the Marauding Tribal raiders killed him in 1947.

The story of Mahadev Bishta remained a part of
our Folklore . And We Forgot our own Robinhood or Mahadev Bishta .

( Autar Mota )

PS

My mother's cousin sister who was affectionately
known as Arin Jigar /Behan Pyari was a singer cum poet.In marriage functions of her
relatives , she would enthrall every participant with her singing and by
creating fantastic accompanying beats on Gaagar(Brass Matka) or Tumbaknaari( A
Duffli used in Kashmir). She was a Great performer .

Arin Jigar was married to Late Radha Krishen
Dhar of Vechaar Naag who was a helpful relation. Arin Jigar had a great sense
of humour and a sharp wit.

Apart from other compositions that she sang, "Bishtak Baanda "was something special and conveyed the story of the kashmiri
Robin hood to us. .